On a mission with U.S. forces in Afghanistan

Updated 3:29 PM ET, Tue September 19, 2017

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On a mission with U.S. forces in Afghanistan – The U.S. Army's 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry regiment recently kicked off a two-part mission in Kunar Province in eastern Afghanistan -- ferry a 114-truck resupply convoy from Jalalabad to Forward Operating Base Bostick and build two new outposts (as well as good will with the Afghans there). Mimi Wells, a fellow at the Center for Investigative Reporting, embedded with the troops as they talked to residents and later engaged in a firefight on the resupply route.

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On a mission with U.S. forces in Afghanistan – Forward Operating Base Bostick sits in an untamed region in Kunar Province, which runs along the border with Pakistan in the heart of Taliban country. This lookout post is manned by a soldier from the Afghan National Army, which helps run the base with the U.S. troops.

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On a mission with U.S. forces in Afghanistan – Soldiers gather in the early morning to get instructions for the convoy drive to the Nishigam district center, in the heart of what they call the "Ghaziabad gap," a Taliban-controlled portion of the only road in Kunar. Many believe the road is the key to stability in the region. The two new outposts, they hope, will allow U.S. and Afghan forces to control a valley that the Taliban now uses to ferry weapons and fighters from Pakistan.

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On a mission with U.S. forces in Afghanistan – Ahead of the resupply convoy arriving, mortar men fire a series of mortars into known enemy positions from Checkpoint 2.5, a remote outpost that overlooks the supply road.

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On a mission with U.S. forces in Afghanistan – Conditions at Checkpoint 2.5 are bare, but the platoon makes the most of it. Sgt. Patrick Trout, who is on his second deployment, swings from a hammock he brought from the base. Others watch movies and listen to music. The men sleep in shifts, and when they are not in one of the two covered rooms in the outpost, they are required to wear full body armor.

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On a mission with U.S. forces in Afghanistan – Sgt. Anthony Bluhme rests after a heavy firefight with Taliban forces. The previous day, Taliban fighters had attacked their convoy with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.

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On a mission with U.S. forces in Afghanistan – Spc. Samuel Stratton also was involved in the firefight. Soldiers with the Forward Operating Base Bostick have fired more artillery than any other unit in Afghanistan, they say.

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On a mission with U.S. forces in Afghanistan – At the Nishigam district center, another part of the mission begins: to continue to build good will among the villagers. Village elders attend the shura led by Afghan security forces and 2-27's battalion commander, Lt. Col. Dan Wilson. He encourages the tribal leaders to work together to push the Taliban from the area. "Americans won't be here forever," he tells them.

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On a mission with U.S. forces in Afghanistan – Part of the 2-27's mission has been to build schools throughout the Kunar Province. This girl in Nishigam has been out of class for three days. The roof collapsed on her school, held in a villager's home.

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On a mission with U.S. forces in Afghanistan – After the official shura, the elders move outside to the courtyard in the district center to continue the discussion. No Americans participate. Before they begin speaking, they pray together.

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On a mission with U.S. forces in Afghanistan – Meanwhile, the U.S. forces relax on the grass of the district compound after the shura. Lt. Col. Dan Wilson sits in a circle with the local Afghan Army colonel and a security adviser.

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On a mission with U.S. forces in Afghanistan – Also at the Nishigam district center, an Afghan National Police commander trains a squad of new recruits on field discipline.

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Intimate photos of American forces serving in their country's longest war. CNN Films' "Legion of Brothers," about the early days of America's secret war in Afghanistan, airs Sunday, September 24 at 9 p.m. ET.